Neck pain is common and can result from several activities and conditions. For instance, hunching over a computer screen or reading for extended periods can strain the neck muscles. This strain can cause stiffness and achy pain.
Chiropractors can help treat neck pain and other injuries. They do this through adjustments, soft tissue therapy, joint bracing, and Kinesio taping. They also provide education on proper posture, exercise, and weight management.
Poor Posture
The neck supports the head and comprises seven bones (vertebrae) stacked on each other and bound together with ligaments. It is supported by a complex muscle system that provides movement and support.
Bad posture causes load imbalances on different parts of the spine and can cause muscle tightness, stiffness, and pain. It can also lead to referred back pain or neck pain (pain radiating into another body area).
Stiffness in the neck may feel sharp and localized or spread out across a broader area. It can also be accompanied by muscle spasms or, less commonly, by numbness, tingling, and weakness in the arms or hands. Generally, doctors can diagnose neck pain based on symptoms and a physical exam. However, they may sometimes order an MRI to rule out serious causes of pain, such as pressure on the spinal cord or a herniated disc.
Injury
Neck pain can come from any part of the neck muscles, bones, tendons, and ligaments. It can be sharp and focused in one spot, referred up to the head or down into the shoulders, arms, and hands. Neck injuries can range from whiplash to herniated spinal disks. Neck joints can wear out with age, causing osteoarthritis and spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spaces in the spine that nerves pass through).
Seek emergency medical care if neck pain is sudden and severe or includes symptoms like weakness, numbness, or tingling down your arms or hands. Your doctor can diagnose the cause with X-rays, an MRI or CT scan, and blood tests. Treatment may include pain medications, physical therapy, or a neck collar. If the neck pain is from a serious injury to the spinal cord, surgery may be needed.
Spinal Stenosis
If the neck pain is severe and does not respond to nonsurgical treatment, surgery may be needed. Surgery may include a cervical laminectomy, spinal fusion, or discectomy.
Spinal stenosis causes pain when the space around your spinal cord and spinal nerves narrows, compressing them. It can affect your lower back (lumbar spine) or neck (cervical spine). It typically occurs in older adults as a natural part of aging. It can also occur due to injury or degenerative conditions such as osteoarthritis.
You can often prevent this type of neck pain by using good posture, taking regular breaks while working with your head flexed down, and avoiding carrying heavy loads. Symptoms may be relieved by over-the-counter painkillers, massage and heat/cold therapy, physiotherapy, acupuncture or osteopathy.
Stress
The neck, called the cervical spine, is a highly coordinated network of bones, joints, and muscles. Its flexibility allows it to move in many directions, making it vulnerable to strain and injury. Neck pain can cause numbness, tingling, and weakness in your shoulder, head, or arms. Sometimes, it even radiates down the legs and into your hands.
Most neck pain is not serious and goes away with time, rest, ice, and conservative treatment such as medication, physical therapy, or a padded collar. If your pain persists, see a doctor.
Overuse, such as spending too much time hunched over a computer monitor or being unbalanced by a heavy bag on your shoulder, can trigger muscle strains. Age-related wear and tear, such as deteriorating cartilage or spinal stenosis, can cause neck pain.
Poor Sleep
Aching and stiffness in the neck can keep you awake at night. This can lead to sleep deprivation, which may exacerbate the neck pain.
Using good posture when standing or sitting, taking frequent breaks when using computers, tablets, and mobile phones, and sleeping on a pillow that supports the head and neck can all help prevent neck strain. Exercises can also help, particularly those that strengthen the neck muscles.
A healthcare provider should be consulted if you have neck pain that doesn’t go away. Occasionally, serious causes of neck pain, such as pressure on the spinal cord or myelopathy, can develop and require emergency care. Your healthcare provider can check for these red flags during an exam. They can also order an MRI to confirm a diagnosis.